Habre appeal to start

Lawyers for the former president of Chad, Hissene Habre, are due to launch an appeal against his life sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during his rule in the 1980s.

It is unclear if Mr Habre will be compelled to appear in person at the special court in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, which he does not recognise.

His conviction last May was seen as a landmark prosecution against the impunity claimed by many of Africa’s oppressive leaders. It’s estimated up to 40,000 people in Chad were killed during Hissein Habra’s presidency, with thousands more raped or tortured.

The hearing is expected to last several days and a definitive judgement on his conviction due in April.